Harness mechanism for looms



July 3,1945. Oyv, PAYNE 2,379,742

HARNESS MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 27, 1944 v2 sheets-sheet 1 ,'izvento 06ml' 17.' fag i .lub7 3, 1945. o. v. PAYNE lIIMNSS MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 27, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 3, 1945 UNITD STATES PATENT OFFICE f harness mechanismsfor looms and .it isthe geny 'eral `object of the invention to'provide `means by which the bearings .forthe `harnessconnector sheaves may be wide :enough to resist objectionablewear. y

Warp threads of looms arevcontrolled by harness `frames which are generally raised `through flexible connectors extending around harness sheaves and :connected to some-r form of harness x lifting mechanism, such as a `dobby or Knowles head. It has been customary in the past to placze allot the .harness sheaves on a single supporting shaft with vthe/result 'that the sheave bearings have been too narrow to withstand the wear incident `tothe repeated rockings in opposite directions occurring during loomoperation. It is `an important object of my present invention to provide `means for'supporting thesheaves in two sets orv groups in :such away that the sheaves of one groupfare staggered with respect tothe.

sheaves of the other group, thereby permitting the use ofwider sheave bearings. c y

Inthe correct alignment of thewarp sheds lt. is necessary to be `able to raise and lower the;

harness trameswith respect to thelcom.A It is another object of my present invention to `,pro-

i vide carrierlmeans for the sheave shafts so constructedthat the latter may` be ladjusted' vertically with respect to the loomfarches sothat both groups of sheaves rect positions. n e i v y i i .1

i It is a yfurther object of my invention to provide anv improved sheave shaft support lso con# `striictedthat it `canlbehreadily attached to the loom arches andaordmeans for independentv adjustmentof the two groups of 'harness sheaves.` The .support is made so` that it can be slid along the loom arches for adjustment with respect `to the` harness lifter mechanismV andthe harness frame. i

" With these and other objects in viewA which will `appear asthe description proceeds,` my invention resides in the combination and arrange# ment of parts hereinafter described "andsetlforth.

In" the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of 'my vinvention i's set forth,

maybe given theircori Fig. 1 is a frontelevation ofthe upperpart of a loom showing harness lframes Tand harness lifting mechanism together with my improved mounting for the harness sheaves, i

Fig. 2 is a detail plan `view ofone pair iofvsets u of `sheaves looking in the..di-rection of arrow 2,-.Figl f1', with thelharnessiirames omitted,

AFg. 3i is an enlarged vertical sectionvonline 3f3 of; Fig. 2 showing one of the aforesaid supports andthe manner in which it is` mounted onthe 100ml arch corresponding thereto,y i

. Fig. 4 is alverticalsectionon line lfi4` of Fig.

`Fig..6 is `a perspective view of `one of the sheave stands or supporting blocks, `and e i lFigJl, is a `detail showing one `of the carriers for the sheave .shaft supporting` screw, partly in section, with part ofthe screw` detached therefrom. i -v Referring particularly `to Figs. 1 and `2, `I have shown a loom `frame I-(I` across theupper Apart of which` extends front and back arches H and I2, respectively. These arches may be of the usualform .having ya vertical web.` |3and upper and lowenflanges I4 `and 115 respectively. The

`flanges `:of the vfront arch vextend rearwardly from theirqcorresponding web 13, While thefiangesgoi thetrear 'arch l2 yextend forwardly. Supported on `the loom arches isv any convenient form of harness fliftingmechanism indicated lgenerally at K and including a series `of harness `jacks two of `whiclalare shownlatland l1 inFig. la These jacksoperate infusualxmanner and are shifted during loom .operation so that` each jackimay occupy both of the positions `.indicated in Fig;` 1.

'The .loom is `provided with a 4set `or plurality of .harness frames for the Warpt'hreads, two lof these framesbe'ing indicated at 20 and 72| in 1. The vertical position `of these :framesis determined by 'the mechanism K acting through harnessfconnections indicated generally at` the upper `part `of iFig. 1. Thus, as `indicated in Fig.

1" the Lfront harness frame' 20 i is connected `by harnesscords 22 and 23 to a link 241 received yby loneor 4another of the notches Aoi harness i jack |"16`,"while`the rear harness frame 2l is sim-` ilarly connected by cords 216` and 2li` to` asecond link 281 connected to thezharness 'jack Il. These several cordslare vconnected to their respective harness frames byrhookszextending upwardly from the top .railsl of the `harness frames.

IIn thepast it .hasbeen common practice to train the Tharnesscords trom one end of the loom aroundlone set of` .sheaves all rotatable `on a single `shaft and trainthe harness cords leading trom `theotl'ier-end ofthe loom around a similar settersheayestalsoymounted on a Vsingle shaft. By thisconstructionituisfnecessary to reduce the width of the sheavebearings to an :amount `-etmaal substantially to the thickness of the harness Figt is a horizontal section on line-S Aof asv-9,742

A winged nut 65l is threaded on the upper end of bolt 58 and as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 has the lower surface thereof provided with a concave groove 66 which ts over the upper part of a carrier 55 for the purpose of holding the winged nut against turning with respect to the 'Ihe matter thus far described is of common construction and-isset forth for illustrative purposes to indicate one lmanner or using my invention. Thejacks I6 and I1 can ybe parts either of the Well-known Knowles head or dobby, and the customary means not shown herein may beH employed for pulling the harness framesdown-L Wardly when a harness frame shifts from a posi- `tion corresponding to jack I] -toja' lower position, u

bolt when said nut has been properly adjusted. It, willv be understood. from an inspection of FivgZrZ that the sets or groups`35 and 360i sheaves extend between two of the supports andare .mounted on two parallel shafts each supported as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 and held in- 1 @vertically adjusted position by the bolt head 59 In carrying my present invention'into `effect If provide two sets or groups of harness cord sheaves for each end of the loom and stagger the sheaves of one group with rrespect to the sheaves of the other group so that the harness cords may be properly v'aligned-w andin `oroleralso `that the sheaves maybe provided with lbearingssubst'anf tially twice? the width offthoseheretofore '-used; Since the pair of sets or groups atl the two ends of the loom are similar 1 Will give a detailed de' scriptionof those locatedat'the leftfenddonly as seen in Fig. l, and it will'beunderstood'that this ydescription sufcesfor the sheaves at the right end of the loom also.'

As lindicatedinFig: 24 the`1two sets or groups 35 and'35 ofthe harness sheaves nearest the harness lifter 'mechanism K extend'between the front and back arches and are held in position on supports or-lblocks B, one Abehind:the-other,andsecured a'djustably-'along the length of the front and back arches;` /Thesej 4supportsare both alike and are shown in Fig. Gjeachsupport'comprising a. wall 40 slotted as' atv `ll Kto receivea bolt 421pa`ssing through the associated arch.` Eachwallfhas extending-laterally from` the: ends' .thereof wings 43 and .44 each terminating inv a `verticalmember `1l5 slotted asrat-lli.v The slots rMi provideinner walls 41 and router-swalls 48'extending vertically, and slot. 45 is preferably though not necessarily' machined in. order to provide smoothfguideways for structure to be Idescrbed.y 'Ihe.upper=and'loWer endsY of each of the wallst411fand1l8` aregformed with; concave surfaces or.pocketsas ,at-.550;.and any1 pair of concave isurfacesiat the-same ends of guide walls 41and 48 arepreferablyconcenl tric about 4an axis parallel -to the lengthof block B. and extending transversely 'orthexessociated guide slot AMi. II'he support 41)` isA psymrnetricalas Willbe apparent ,fromlief 6 v$0 that i may be used'on either the frontor re ar arch and may if desired be. inverted There ,will .be @er .0f .these Supports. foreach 100m, Wafer. @e911 Pair' Of sl'leavegroups.` v

E .Y 0f the peer Pairsef-Corieve Surfaces 50 receives ra cylindrical carrier extending across the `upper end.l of 'the 'corresponding slotv 46 fand positioned substantially parallel to the'fadjacent arch 'bythe concave surfaces 5U. `.Eachcarrier is providedwith a clear` hole 56; see Fig.'7, extending verticallyV therethroughto receive the upper @mi or aiserew' threadedbolt 581 `Thse threads extend through but vare not tapped'intorthe hole 56"s o that thebolt may bemoved vertically with respectto thescarrierv 55 whilethelatteris seated Y inithe associated 'concave pockets 5(l.*"'1helower end ofeach bolt is provided with ahead 59 on which rests a sheave supporting meansysuchas'a shaft jprovidedwitha vertical bore6'l through whichthe` lower Unthreadedr end ofthe bolt passes, geeFig `3 1.', .j f Lw and thel winged nut 55. These shafts 60 are A[parallel andi .extend horizontally between the frontand back arches and have mounted thereon harness cord sheaves S one of which is shown parwith, respectto the 'endsof the associated 'hub 12,*

" ticularly in Figi-'4.' Each sheave has a peripheral groove 10 to receive the associated harness cord and has a web 1l formed integral `with a hub 12. An vanti-friction. or .oille'ss bushing ,13, mayy be driven-into eachhub -12 if desired. The bearing hubs;;1` are approximately double the widths' of the usual-sheave and vtherefore' providemuch'` im; proved.; bearing surfaces requiring less `frequent replacements and airording` better operation; The"V web,por plane o f the rim 10,.,mayabe vcentral Each set of sheaves, is arranged on'lits associated shaft sothatthe sheaves `thereofwill be 'stag`` gered laterally with respect vto the sheaves of the other set, as indicated -inFg.12. In order to' effect this staggering I use collars -15 which are approxi. mately half the width of a-bearinghub 12. As

shown in Fig. 2 the sheaves are strung along the left hand shaftll so that the front sheave is close to the front archL ll, while the rearmost sheavek isv spacedfromfthe rear support4 Mby' a collar 15. :The right hand group 35 of `sheaves Aon the other hand-isarranged on .its shaft 60 in reverse order, having the colla'r15 at the front of the group. Since each-collar extends along its" shaft.l a distance' equalv substantially" to'. one-half the length of a sheavehuhthese collars `whenarranged as V'shown' Fig. l2 effect Y"staggering" of l theisheaves of` Aone group Vwith respect'ltothe set fly-ing' intermediate sheaves ofthe othergroup, thefsheaves'of one sheaves of-'the other set. p ."fAlthough` only two-harness jacks have b een mentioned thusfarfas a matter of ifact theloom will te provided with as many harnessjacksas there are harness lsheaves in each pairofigroups,

jacksflli and 'Il as fshown in Fig.'1. 2 'ITheharness cordsv associated withjtle from;` harnessgl'jack l I G,

and Iwith"alternate. jacks reading--fromffrontlto ba'ckg'Figl` 2, will'ha've their cords trained arouhd group 3 6 of sheaves-,While the cordsv correspond" ing to the intermediate. jacks i will beV .trained around the sheaves of the groups 35 'andleadto the intermediate harness Iframes,r starting with frame 2l `flThus each harness jack iscofnnected toits; corresponding harness frame at two spaced points and extends around the'jsheave vbelonging 'witntne iffthandjgrcupsyarid it win also be understood that if desired the groups 36 may' be held at la lower ,level than' groups 35 -by proper manipulation "of"'the"` associated wingednuts.

While it is i desirable to maintain a` difference lofL level between the groups of any pair ofgroups as Indicated inrligf-fl',` yet I do not wish necessarily to be limited to this arrangement. It will also be understood that the staggering for the `right hand pair of groups will be substantially the same as that shown in Fig. l for 'the left hand pair of` groups. i

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple form of harness cord sheave mechanism wherein the rims and hubs of the sheaves of two adjacent sets and 36 of sheaves are staggered laterally with respect to each other, or in the direction of thelength ,of shafts 6U, so that their hubs may be of substantiallength and extend along the supporting shafts 6U for a distance approximately double thatheretofore used. In each pair of sheave sets there is a sheave for each harness frame, but the cords trained over the sheaves of one set will lead to alternate harness frames, while the cords from the other set lead to The block is adjustable along the harness frame by reason of the slot 4l and bolt 42 and fits between the top and bottom rails I4 and I5 of the associated arch. The blocks for the loom are all alike and are symmetrical about a horizontal plane passing through a slot 4| so that the block may be inverted should the pockets become worn. Furthermore, the block carrier and bolt 58 provide an improved supporting and adjusting unit for the sheave shaft.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the detail herein disclosed, but what I claim is: I

1. In harness mechanism for a loom having front and back arches, a pair of blocks,4 one secured to each arch, a pair of shafts extending between and supported by said blocks and a set of harness sheaves on each shaft, the sheaves of each set being equally spaced by a given distance and the sheaves of one set being staggered with respect to the sheaves of the other set laterally in the direction of the length of said shafts, a collar on one shaft between the block on the front arch and the corresponding set of sheaves and a second collar on the other shaft between the block on the back` arch and the other set of sheaves, said collars having a'width measured along said shafts equal to one-half of said given distance. t

2. In harness sheave supporting mechanism for the arches of a loom having a plurality of harness frames, two parallel horizontal shafts extending between the arches, a set of sheaves on each shaft, the sheaves of one shaft being over alternate harness fraines and the sheaves of the other shaft being over the intermediate harness frames, said sheaves al1 being similar and having hubs on their respective shafts, a collar onvone-of said 'I ward `fone of the` arches ,f anda collaron thefother shaft! spacing `the sheaves on said# ther shaft #toward the'otherlarch. i t "i f 'plurality' of lharnessiframes, -a set foflslieaveson v each shaft, each sheave'havingia `hub and ayrim other shaft.

the plane of which lies intermediate `the ends of the hub thereof, a collar at the rear end of one of said shafts engaging the hub of the rearrnost` sheave on said one shaft,` and asimilar collar on the front end of the other shaft engaging the hub of the foremost sheave on. said other shaft, the length of said collars measured along the shafts being substantially one-half' the length of a hub and Vsaid collars causing the rims of the sheaves `on one shaft to be staggered laterally` with respect to the rims of the sheaves on the 4. In a harness sheave supporting block for the arch of a loom provided with a set of sheaves on each of two horizontal shafts, said block having an elongated horizontally extending wallfor attachment to said arch, a wing extending laterally from each end of the wall, vertically extending means on each wing defining a vertical guide slot for one of the shafts, one slot for each shaft, `each of said means having bearing surfaces on the upper parts thereof on opposite sides of the corresponding slot, said bearing surfaces being concave about a common axis substantially parallel to the length of said wall.

5. In a'harness sheave supporting block for the arch of a loom provided with a set of sheaves on each of two horizontal shafts, saidblock having an elongated horizontal wall having a central slot extending longitudinally thereof and centrally with respect to the top and botto-m of the wall, a pair of spaced guides extending vertically on each end of the wall, eachpair of walls defining a vertical guide slot for a shaft, and the tops and bottoms of each pair of guides having concave surfaces the axes of which are sub-` stantially parallel to the length of said wall, the

concave surfaces on the tops and bottoms of said guides being symmetrically spaced about a hori` i zontal plane passing centrally of said slot.

6. In a harness sheave supporting block for the arch of a loom provided with a set of sheaves on a horizontal shaft, said block having `provision for attachment to the arch, and being formed with a vertical slot open at thetop` and bottom thereof to` receive said shaft, and the block being formed with a pair of coaxial concave pockets adjacent to each end of the slot, the axis of said pairs of pockets being parallel and extending across said plate.

7. A supporting unit for the harness cord sheaves of a loom having an arch, said unit corn-` prising `a block secured to the arch, vertical the upper end of the bolt resting on said `carrier to support the shaft. i

8. A supporting unit for the `harness cord sheaves of a loom having an arch, a block having a wall extending along and secured tothe arch,

a pair of vertically `extending spaced vval1s-pro jecting forwardly fromthe b1ock,'a horizontal shaft extending into the slot,V support vmeans passing through the end of the shaft and located in said slot, the upper surface of said 'walls having7 concave surfaces concentric about an axis `which is;.,transversje of vsaid walls, ay cylindrical carrier in said vconcave surfaces resting on both l l the shaft.

of said walls and extending across the slot and throughfwhich said supporting means extends,

p OSCAR V. PAYNE. 

